Grandpa's Wristwatch Ticks in My Pocket

Lyrics

Gold case scratched where his thumb used to rest
Hands that stopped moving, still it feels blessed
He wound it every morning with his coffee black
Said time's a gift, son, don't give it back
Now it sits in the pocket of my winter coat
Heavy like a letter, heavy like a note
I check it on the train with the city passing by
Every tick a story, every tock a sigh

Tick in my pocket, tick in my chest
Grandpa's wristwatch, never rest
Time don't stop but love can stay
Carry him with me every day
Tick in my pocket, tick in my chest
Hands may slow but he knows best
Every minute that I make it count
Is a little more of him I'm proud

Watchmaker on Fifth said the spring was tired
Said he could replace it, I said no, retire
Let it keep the rhythm that it learned at his wrist
Some things work better when they're missed
I wear it to the cypher, I wear it to the shows
Rub the glass for luck before the mic goes
He never heard my verses, never saw the stage
Now I rap each line to the back of his page

Tick in my pocket, tick in my chest
Grandpa's wristwatch, never rest
Time don't stop but love can stay
Carry him with me every day
Tick in my pocket, tick in my chest
Hands may slow but he knows best
Every minute that I make it count
Is a little more of him I'm proud

Quiet in the kitchen where he used to sit
Radio low and the coffee lit
I hold the watch up to my ear
And I swear that he is near

Someday I'll hand it to a kid of my own
Say this was your great-granddad, here's his tone
Wind it with your morning, let it learn your pace
Time's a long road but love keeps the place

Tick in my pocket, tick in my chest
Grandpa's wristwatch, never rest
Time don't stop but love can stay
Carry him with me every day
Tick in my pocket, tick in my chest
Hands may slow but he knows best
Every minute that I make it count
Is a little more of him I'm proud